Valley Jazz Cooperative
VJC Winter Performance
Ravenscroft Hall 8445 E Hartford Drive, Scottsdale, AZWHAT TO EXPECT A pair of Valley Jazz Cooperative student ensembles share the stage for the opening VJC concert of the year. The VJC Winter Performance will showcase Cerulean (a combo) and Indigo (a big band) on the Ravenscroft Hall stage. VJC Founder Russell Schmidt leads both groups in a matinee event that marks the…
VJC Blue Hues
Ravenscroft Hall 8445 E Hartford Drive, Scottsdale, AZWHAT TO EXPECT The Valley Jazz Cooperative’s 10th Anniversary Season continues with the Blue Hues, featuring the Indigo Big Band and Cerulean Combo (both under the direction of Russell Schmidt) and the Sapphire Big Band (under the direction of Paul Brewer). This is the first VJC event of the year to feature all three student…
Jazzbird Nights: VJC Senior Showcase featuring Jordan Pettay
Jazzbird 8445 E. Hartford Drive, Scottsdale, AZWHAT TO EXPECT The annual VJC Senior Showcase event features the creative gifts of outstanding high school seniors from MSW’s Valley Jazz Cooperative educational program. During the first set, select seniors will have the opportunity to perform jazz standards alongside guest artist Jordan Pettay, a NYC-based jazz saxophonist, backed by leading area jazz musicians. During…
Jazzbird Nights: Kris Johnson
Jazzbird 8445 E. Hartford Drive, Scottsdale, AZWHAT TO EXPECT Kris Johnson is a trumpeter, composer, and educator based in Detroit. With contributions to six GRAMMY-nominated albums as a trumpeter and arranger, including the 2024 GRAMMY-winning Basie Swings the Blues by the Count Basie Orchestra, Kris is a recognized force in the industry. His career highlights include touring globally as a member…
VJC Spotlight Concert featuring Kris Johnson
Ravenscroft Hall 8445 E Hartford Drive, Scottsdale, AZWHAT TO EXPECT The ensembles of the Valley Jazz Cooperative’s main educational program (grades 8-12) share the Ravenscroft Hall stage for a final time this season. And the annual VJC…
VJC Alumni Band Summer Celebration
Ravenscroft Hall 8445 E Hartford Drive, Scottsdale, AZWHAT TO EXPECT The Valley Jazz Cooperative’s 10th Anniversary Season concludes with a Summer Celebration from the VJC Alumni Band. Now a much-anticipated highlight on the VJC calendar, the Alumni Band will perform in Ravenscroft Hall under the direction of Russell Schmidt. Again this year, due to ever-growing interest from program alums, our Summer Celebration…